Sametegal can provide Nicholls with another big Saturday prize

ROCK GONE was having his first race since December 2014 when reappearing at Plumpton 19 days ago but ran a like horse that would be winning next time out when chasing home the 9-4 favourite Billy No Name to two-and-a-half-lengths.
The winner was notching his second success of the campaign and, although the handicapper has upped Rock Gone by a further 2lb since that outing he looks the safest bet in a race with plenty of question marks. Dr Richard Newland is a past master at bringing on a horse like this from a first run to a second and the "bounce" factor is not fancied to intervene on his chance over what looks his optimum trip and on ground that should be ideal.
Spice Fair has been a model of consistency and can make his presence felt, while Olofi would be a danger to all on some of his old form.

There will be plenty siding with Astigos after his runaway victory at Wetherby last time but that was a weak-looking four runner affair and the Venetia Williams-trained nine-year-old in not likely to things so easy up front in this better class race.
In the circumstances, it may be worth giving UPSILON BLEU another chance over his perfect trip and on ground that should suit him infinitely better than quagmire that he had to encounter on his last start at Wetherby. Pauline Robson’s eight-year-old has been shown some leniency by the handicapper since that lacklustre effort and been dropped 4lb to a mark of 140. He hasn’t found the consistency of his past few season just yet but he won the Castleford Chase by three-quarters of a length from French Opera off a mark of 143 and was rated as high as 150 when runner-up to Mr Mole in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in February of last year. He was sent off 7-2 joint favourite for his last start and James Reveley, who has ridden him in five of his last eight starts, remains loyal today.

Colin Tizzard is having a season to dream about with Cue Card and Thistlecrack topping the tree but his lesser lights are also performing in exemplary fashion and MASTERS HILL could well prove the answer to this three mile and two furlong Veterans’ Handicap Chase.
Following a highly satisfactory return when beaten only a neck by Salubrious in a Graduation Chase at Carlisle in November, he was pulled up when 5-1 favourite for the Rehearsal Chase won by Wakanda at Newcastle later in the month. There was another incomplete in the Welsh National at Chepstow won by Mountainous but he was back on the ball when finishing a respectable third to Chase The Spud over three mile in heavy ground at Exeter 20 days ago and, with that confidence booster under his belt, he could well be ready to resume winning ways.

WHATANIGHT may only be a novice but he is not lacking experience and won five of his seven point-to-points. The Harry Fry-trained seven-year-old was off the mark on his second outing over hurdles over three miles at Taunton in December when beating Rock On Oscar two-lengths and then made Emerging Force pull out all the stops over course and distance last month. The front two were 16 lengths clear of the third on that occasion and the handicapper hasn’t taken any chances raising him 11lb to a mark of 140 but that could well be offset by the 7lb claim of Liam McKenna.
The danger could be topweight Zeroeshadesofgrey who boasts winning form over course and distance in December.

Another tricky handicap and the answer could be provided by BOITE whose best effort in staying company on the flat was first time out over a mile and six at Goodwood in May when a close third to Quest For More. He had ended his hurdling season with what is now looking a fine effort in defeat when beaten eight lengths by Different Gravey in a novice event at Ayr in April and that rival returned with vengeance when slaughtering the opposition at Ascot recent.
The danger may well be the aforementioned horses stablemate Saint Charles who is himself coming back after a long layoff but chased home this season’s staying hurdle sensation Thistlecrack over two miles at Ascot when last seen out in February of last year.

Staying could well a premium in this mares novices’ hurdle and YES I DID has the record in the book on that score. A nine length winner from Kilas Girl over three miles and one a half furlongs at Catterick 19 days ago, the Dan Skelton-trained six-year-old should find this long up the straight made to measure.
Probable chief rival The Organist didn’t appear to enjoy a war of attrition when beaten six lengths by Tara Girl when odds-on over two miles at Leicester last time, and she could be dealt a similar blow here.

There were probably some long faces in the Paul Nicholls camp when SAMETEGAL was beaten half a length by Five In A Row in the grandly-named Scottish Champion Novices’ Chase at Musselburgh last time but the winner has since franked the form when following up against seasoned handicappers at Newcastle at the end of February.
Sametagal had previous run leading Cheltenham Festival hope More Of That at Cheltenham in December and he could strike another blow for the younger division in this Graded Handicap Chase.
Chief rival could well be stablemate Art Mauresque who has run well in top handicap company over this trip.

The race has long been on the radar of Kim Bailey for THE LAST SAMURI and his eight-year-old can take further impressive steps to the Grand National at Aintree in April.The Last Samuri looked in need of the run when third to Wakanda and Virak in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November but that pair went onto fight out the finish of the Sodexo Silver Cup at Ascot in December. Kim Bailey’s charge did his own bit to boost the form when winning impressively over three miles at Kempton’s Christmas meeting and a 9lb rise from the handicapper in not expected to halt his progress.
I would have been very interested in Coologue had Charlie Longsdon allowed his seven-year-old to come here instead of taking the easier looking option of yesterday’s novices’ Chase and he could well provide the danger with Drop Out Joe. The eight-year-old is bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Chepstow and Wincanton in the Autumn and is well versed in the necessities of these competitive handicap chases.